City releases urban deer hunt map

The City of Fort Smith released a map showing where people can hunt under the new urban deer hunt law.

The new law allows hunters to kill deer with a bow and arrow within city limits.

According to the law, no privately or corporately owned land is included in the urban hunting zones.

Hunters must meet a list of requirements and obtain a permit before hunting in any areas included the urban deer hunt zones.

Part of the new hunting zone is located close to a popular park.

While Ben Geren Park is not included in the urban deer hunt zone, a single bike lane divides the park and an area where people can hunt.

Park-goers had differing opinions over the safety of the new zone.

“I think it’s a great idea what they’re doing with having to have the permit,” said Justin Franklin, who was at Ben Geren with his 3-year-old son. “I think that you should definitely have to go through that to do it. I believe that a hunter is going to be a responsible person.”

Several other people were not worried about the new hunting zone being close to the park.

“Where we are in the park, and with the golf course next door, there’s a lot of room and a lot of space,” said Dannel O’Kelley, who was watching a baseball game at the park. “If there were any issues, we’d learn about them long before it got here.”

But, other people at the park said they had safety concerns with new hunting zones.

“It seems like a very dangerous idea,” said Zach Mulson, a student who walks on the biking trails.

“If they’re not good shooters, and a biker is going by, they might not mean to shoot them but they might accidentally hit somebody,” said Mulson. “It’s dangerous with bikers going by.”

The city passed the new law earlier this year.

City leaders said the new law will tackle the city’s deer overpopulation problem.

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